Treatise Of A Failed Knight-Chapter 281: Dead End

I arrived alone, wanting to investigate without drawing attention.

Klein offered to accompany me, but I insisted he continue researching Alaric’s background. Besides, if there’s something paranormal here, my Leviathan abilities give me the best chance of detecting it.

I break the seals and chains—they’re old and rusted, offering little resistance—and push open the door.

The interior is exactly as I expected: charred walls, collapsed furniture, debris scattered everywhere. Decades of neglect have transformed this place into a tomb.

I activate Existential Resonance.

Immediately, the world shifts.

My perception expands, reaching beyond the physical into the metaphysical.

I can detect the Temporal Layers of Existence, alongside the Aego and the existence of everything around me.

I should also be able to detect Trace Elements, but since this place has been abandoned for decades, whatever Trace Elements that remained after the fires should have died off already.

Or so I thought.

’What is this?!’

I notice a strange shift in energy and detect mild hints of Trace Elements.

And there’s something else.

Something beneath.

I follow the trail, picking my way carefully through the ruined building. It leads me to what appears to be a collapsed section of floor in the rear corner of the ground level.

Most people would see nothing but rubble and debris.

But with Existential Resonance active, I can see the truth.

There’s a structure beneath this.

Preserved.

It reeks of defined Existence!

I clear away the debris, revealing a stone trapdoor. It’s seamlessly integrated with the surrounding floor—invisible to normal inspection.

Only my Leviathan senses allowed me to detect it.

The trapdoor isn’t locked. It opens with surprising ease, revealing a staircase descending into darkness.

I summon a light and descend.

The staircase leads down at least thirty feet, far deeper than the building’s basement should extend.

The walls are smooth stone, unmarked by fire or time.

This structure is much younger than the building above it.

Surely less than a century old.

Perhaps just decades.

At the bottom, I find a door. This one is locked, and the mechanism is far too complex for me to unravel.

But I can detect it—something beyond this tightly locked door.

It exists beyond these walls.

’T-this...!’

I continue to shudder, staring in absolute shock at this locked vault.

Whatever lies beyond is certainly huge.

The expanse is enormous—easily the size of the entire building above.

And it is sure to be filled with treasures.

Not gold or jewels.

Something far more valuable.

Mystical Characteristics.

So dense!

With all kinds of variations!

’Why are there so many Special Resources inside there?’ I feel a great pressure within me.

It is too absurd!

To think there was such a treasure trove buried beneath this structure of tragedy and misery.

Did Zarius know?

’Is this what drew him here,’ I ponder quietly. ’He is a Leviathan, so he must have sensed this vault. Maybe he was trying to access it when the fire started.’

But that raises another question.

Who created this vault?

When?

And for what purpose?

No, perhaps I am thinking about this all wrong.

After all, this structure doesn’t appear very old, and the age coincides with the earliest accounts in Zarius’ journal when he first arrived in the Randalorion Kingdom.

What does this mean?

It’s possible that Zarius built this place.

But for what purpose?

What else?

’Could it have been to hide his treasures? But he had the Dark Guild and Duke Kaelen for that!’ I rub my chin. ’He could have used them at any point he wanted.’

Why go through such a tedious process?

Perhaps... It wasn’t for him.

’Could it be that Leaper? Maybe this is the errand he was sent on. The favor...’

My mind begins to race with implications.

Is this Cult Leader Leaper I suspect connected to Zarius’ Leaper?

Are they the same people?

Do the Enlightened Witnesses of Truth know this place exists?

I need answers!

’But first I need access to this place...’ I sigh deeply while staring at the fortified door and hidden locks.

Perhaps if I had a complete Conception, I would be able to use Tracing to appear on the other side.

Unfortunately, I cannot do that.

Frontflow also can’t help me, and neither can Clairvoyance.

I’ll have to break into this place by force.

’Unfortunately, I’m not with Golden Dawn. It should still be charging up where I left it...’

Until I restore Golden Dawn to its previous status, or at least stabilize it as an S Grade Armament, I can’t carry it around carelessly.

It constantly remains in a recharging state in order to prevent any further degradation.

Right now, it is in my private quarters in the Academy, not very far from here.

’I can use Tracing to get it and return before long...’ A small smile forms on my face and I vanish from my position in an instant.

A few seconds later... I reappear before the locked vault, holding Golden Dawn.

Its body shimmers resplendently.

Great power bursts forth from it, radiating throughout the undercover space.

But I show no satisfaction this time.

’Something is wrong!’

A deep frown forms on my face as I discover something rather strange with the vault.

’Where are all the Mystical Characteristics I detected earlier?’ Filled with both worry and curiosity, I act on my dreadful thoughts and send a powerful flash towards the locked door.

BOOOOOMMM!!!

The structure instantly collapses, its metallic hinges flying into the room.

The thick and huge chunks that used to stand sturdy melt upon contact with my Armament’s golden light, and I am granted entry into the vast expanse beyond the walls.

That is when I confirm my deepest suspicion.

’Empty...?’

My jaws slack immediately.

How is this even possible? Just a moment ago, it seemed to be bustling with so much life and energy.

Why and how is it bare now?!

The situation is too absurd for me to properly explain.

I stand in the massive empty chamber, Golden Dawn still glowing in my hand, trying to reconcile what my senses detected moments ago with the stark reality before me. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

This vault was cleared recently.

Very recently.

The Trace Elements I detected earlier—intense as they were—couldn’t have lingered for more than a few days at most.

Even if they had, they wouldn’t have been so intense!

Which means someone accessed this place within the past few days.

Maybe the past week, if I am being generous.

’This couldn’t have been Zarius’ doing,’ I think, my mind racing through the timeline. ’He’s been dead for years. And the concentration of Existence I detected... whoever cleared this vault did so after I began my investigation.’

The implications make my blood run cold.

Is someone watching me?!

’No... let’s calm down.’

I activate Existential Resonance again, searching for any trace of whoever was here.

But they were careful—too careful. The only evidence of their presence is the absence of what should be here.

’The concentration of Existence beyond this vault was immense,’ I recall, remembering that overwhelming sensation when I first detected this place. ’Whatever was stored here had to have been Rank 3 Special Resources at minimum. Possibly even Rank 4.’

Rank 4 Special Resources are extraordinarily rare. Materials like that can only be casually found in large quantities within Large-Sized Kingdoms.

They’re useful for batch-making B Grade Armaments of Grade 4 Potions.

They’re too valuable!

This means they also have a very defined existence due to their immense Mystical Characteristics.

’Special Resources do not naturally leave Trace Elements behind unless they are altered or turned into Potions, Armaments, Spells, et cetera.The Trace Elements I detected when I entered the burning building was either from the locked vault door—clearly an Armamentused—and perhaps Spells meant to hide the Special Resources. None of them appear to be in effect now...’

Why?

Were they deactivated in the short while I was away? And the thief stole everything in that short while?

It was barely even a minute.

Perhaps if they used Frontflow, it would be possible. But isn’t this a Leaper I am dealing with?

Unless...

’Are they a Harbinger?’ I shudder quietly.

No.

That doesn’t make much sense.

For one, Zarius is connected to a Leaper not a Harbinger. But isn’t it possible that the Leviathan lied to him?

Ah, but what of the other issue?

There is a high chance I was followed here by the Leviathan of the Cult, who could be a Harbinger and not a Leaper.

If they could use Frontflow and Tracing, then this makes sense.

But how would they be able to disappear so quickly, also erasing traces of their presence, entry, and/or exit? They must have used Tracing to enter the vault, right?

How could they then switch to Frontflow so easily?

’Wait... if they are of higher rank, this is indeed possible.’

I sigh deeply.

The matter had gotten too complicated.

I could make all kinds of assessments based on this confusing situation and it would make sense.

If this Leviathan is a Harbinger, they could have some form of precognition—perhaps Vision or Clairvoyanxe—which would be in a higher rank.

At least Rank 2.

This elevation in rank would allow them to observe others and not just themselves. They could watch me without proximity then, could they not?

I could go on and on with guesses, but what would be the point?

Without certainty or some way to streamline the possibilities, I will simply arrive at too many conclusions.

How frustrating...

Yet another clue has been lost.

’Now I’m back to stumbling in the dark.’

I examine the vault more thoroughly for the last time, searching for anything that might have been overlooked.

But there’s nothing.

Not a single container, not a scrap of paper, not even dust or debris that might indicate what was stored here.

Just empty, ordinary stone walls.

After an hour of fruitless searching, I’m forced to accept reality.

Another dead end.

I’ve hit a wall yet again.

I extinguish Golden Dawn and return to the surface, leaving the gaping hole of the vault behind me.

There’s no point leaving it sealed or open.

Whatever secrets it once held are long gone now.

As I emerge from the abandoned building into the afternoon sunlight, frustration gnaws at me.

’How many times now?’ I think bitterly. ’How many times have I gotten close only to find nothing?’

The Cult Temple—cleared out except for the lowest-ranking members.

The Higher Divination—failed.

Alaric’s journals—encrypted beyond our ability to read.

And now this vault—emptied before I could examine its contents.

It feels like I’m shadow boxing.

Swinging at an opponent I can’t see, who effortlessly dodges every strike.

I return to my quarters and sit in silence, staring at nothing, trying to formulate a new plan.

But what’s left?

What avenue haven’t I explored?

The only remaining hope is Regulus Heathcliff and those encrypted journals.

If he can’t decrypt them...

I push that thought away.

I can’t afford despair.

Not when Seraphina and the others are still missing.

*******

Four days later, salvation arrives in the form of a thick envelope bearing Regulus Heathcliff’s seal.

Klein brings it to me personally, practically vibrating with excitement.

"It’s from your scholar friend," he says. "The package is heavy. I think he sent back the translations!"

I tear open the envelope, and sure enough, inside are dozens of pages covered in Regulus’s neat handwriting. The encrypted symbols from Alaric’s journals have been converted into readable text.

Finally!

At long last!

There’s also a letter.

"Dear Javier,

I must say, this was one of the most challenging decryption projects I’ve ever undertaken. Professor Alaric Dyskryn was clearly paranoid—he used a multi-layered cipher combining three different encryption methods. It took me two nights to crack it.

I’ve enclosed the complete translations of all documents you sent. I’ve also taken the liberty of organizing them chronologically and by subject matter, as Alaric’s original journals were somewhat chaotic.

Now, regarding the content itself—I have concerns. Alaric was researching Leviathans extensively, as you warned. But more than that, he was involved with an organization he called "The Enlightened Witnesses of Truth".

His notes suggest he believed interactions with them could benefit his research and that they could be used for various purposes. However, it appears they had a falling out at some point due to a difference in ideology and approach.

I’ve been conducting some investigations of my own here in Dustinville. There have been similar disappearances here in the past—though not as numerous as what you’re experiencing in Randalorion. I began cross-referencing the victims in those cases and found something interesting—abandoned Temples, perhaps belonging to the same Cult described in Alaric’s notes.

I’ve also identified three individuals who appear to be connected to this mysterious organization.

Their names and last known locations are included in the attached documents. As fate would have it, it appears all of them are in the Randallotion Kingdom at the moment. I suggest you investigate them carefully. If they’re truly part of this cult, they may lead you to the larger operation.

One final note, this research of mine has increased my impression of you, and I look forward to our future collaborations. I’m not asking you to confirm or deny anything right now. I simply want you to know that I’m here to help, regardless of... certain circumstances.*

Stay safe, Javier. And please, keep me informed of developments. This investigation has become as much mine as yours now.*

Yours in truth,

Regulus Heathcliff

I read the letter twice, absorbing every detail.

Regulus is brilliant.

More than that, he’s thorough. He didn’t just decrypt the journals—he analyzed them, cross-referenced them with his own investigations, and provided actionable intelligence.

And he’s essentially confirmed that he knows I’m a Leviathan, while simultaneously pledging his support regardless.

’Can I trust him?’ I wonder. ’Or is this a trap?’

But what choice do I have?

He’s given me exactly what I needed—translations of Alaric’s work and identities of cult members I can actually track down.

Klein hovers nearby, clearly dying to know what the letter says.

"Good news?" he asks hopefully.

"Very good news," I confirm. "We finally have leads we can follow. Real leads, not dead ends."

I hand him the pages containing the names and locations of suspected cult members.

"Coordinate with the Royal Knights and start looking for these individuals. Discreetly. Since they are likely a part of the Enlightened Witnesses of Truth, finding them will lead us to the Cult, and hopefully to the rest of the kidnapped victims."

"Understood." Klein takes the documents and hurries off, renewed purpose in his step.

I’m left alone with the translated journals.

Hours of Alaric’s paranoid ramblings, technical diagrams, and theoretical frameworks for understanding Leviathans and his interaction with this strange Cult.

Somewhere in these pages is the answer I’ve been seeking.

’Alright, then...’

I settle into my chair, light several candles as evening approaches, and begin to read.

’Thank you, Regulus,’ I think silently. ’Whether you’re friend or foe, you’ve given me exactly what I needed.’

Finally, after so many dead ends and false starts, I have a path forward.

Time to see where it leads!